What Tinubu told me about Akpabio - Sen Ndume reveals

Senator Ali Ndume, lawmaker for Borno South senatorial district, claims President Bola Tinubu has endorsed Senator Godswill Akpabio to be the next Senate President.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, June 7, Ndume said he was informed by the President that Akpabio is his preferred choice.

He said; “The President told me that his preferred candidate is Akpabio and I should lead the campaign.”

There have been conflicting reports as to who will be the next senate president of the red chamber following their inauguration which will be held on Tuesday, June 13.

Some claim that President Tinubu had backed out from supporting Senator Akpabio for the Senate Presidency, while others say some senators-elects are pulling out from the camp of Akpabio.

Senator Ndume on his part said he is confident that President Bola Tinubu will keep to his word.

It is known that the national working committee of the APC are backing Akpabio for senate president and Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano) as his deputy at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

The APC selected Hon Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna) as the Speaker and Hon. Benjamin Kalu (Abia) as the deputy at the House of Representatives.

Ndume revealed that 75 out of the 109 senators in the Senate pitched their tents with Senator Akpabio for the Senate Presidency.

He said: “As at today, I am telling you we have 75 senators. All advantages are on our side. We have the support of the party, we have the support of the president, and most importantly we have the support of most of the senators.
These senators signed up to endorse our programme."